Music in the Canyon, Redmond’s free summer concert series in American Legion Park, almost disappeared last year. After series founder and main organizer Jim Bull announced he would not be able to afford to host another season, the community rallied with donations to save the shows. Bull is now gearing up for the ninth season of Music in the Canyon, which kicks off Wednesday with Nashville blues-rock combo Too Slim & The Tail Draggers, featuring guitar shredder Tim “Too Slim” Langford. He said he’s received some donations so far, but his company, Central Oregon Sound & Security, will foot the bill for the first show. If you want to help out, visit musicinthecanyon.org to make a donation.

“I’ve got enough to pay for the first show, and I’m going for it,” Bull said. “Over the years, there’s been times when I had to borrow money from my parents to pay the band. People go, ‘Why do you do that?’ And I go, ‘Well, if I didn’t do it, no one else would.’ The community needs it.”

Check out the rest of the series:

Aug. 1 — Blackstrap Bluegrass (local bluegrass)

Aug. 15 — Casey Neill and the Norway Rats (Portland folk-punk featuring members of The Decemberists)

Aug. 29 — Broken Down Guitars (local roots rock)

Too Slim & The Tail Draggers: 5:30 p.m. Wednesday; free; American Legion Park, 850 SW Rimrock Way, Bend; musicinthecanyon.org or 541-504-6878.